Martinez Delighted with Incredible Run

Wigan Athletic boss, Roberto Martinez, believes that his side are finally getting full value for their performances, following four wins in their last five games.

The Latics have hit form at just the right time of the season and, arguably, during their toughest run of the campaign, to pull clear of the relegation zone.

Wigan were bottom of the pile only a month ago, but first-ever victories at Liverpool and Arsenal, and a maiden win over Manchester United, have turned their season around. The only blot on their copybook was a controversial 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.

Martinez admitted Wigan were struggling for confidence while they were rock bottom.

"We had performances - to mention a few: Norwich, Aston Villa and West Brom - where we played really, really well but didn't get the points", he said.

"That was because of the position we had in the table and the connotations that affect our final-third play – that stops you from scoring goals and getting points."

The shock 2-1 victory at Anfield proved to be a watershed in Wigan’s season, and Martinez believes they have gone "into a different dimension" since the famous win.

"Probably the most pleasing aspect is that we deserved the points. That's credit to the players and how hard they've been working under the circumstances – with the real need of points and being in that position in the table", he added.

Wigan’s incredible run of results appears to have ensured another season in the Premier League. Martinez’s side sit 16th, five points clear of safety with four games remaining, though third-bottom Bolton Wanderers have two games in hand.

Managers prefer points on the board at this stage of the season and Martinez will feel confident of securing safety with time to spare if Wigan maintain their current form. Make your Premier League betting predictions with Betfred.

Tiote Not Leaving Tyneside

 Newcastle United star, Cheick Tiote, has refuted claims he is about to leave the club, and insists his future lies on Tyneside.

The Ivory Coast midfielder has been a revelation since his £3.5m switch from FC Twente, in the summer of 2010. He impressed enough to be offered a new six-and-a-half year deal, in February 2011. The contract will keep Tiote at Newcastle until 2017.

The length of the deal has not deterred interested parties, with Chelsea among the clubs reported to be lining up a bid for the 25-year-old.

Despite the interest, Tiote has no intention of going anywhere. He wants to help the side claim an unexpected Champions League place.

"I'm a Newcastle player; my future is at Newcastle. I'm playing for Newcastle and I have to finish this season strongly to help the team get into Europe", Tiote told the Evening Chronicle.

"If we do that, it will be good for the club and the fans. We are in a great position now."

Newcastle are all but assured of a place in Europe, next season, after Liverpool beat Everton in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final. The Football Association confirmed the result means that a sixth place finish in the Premier League will earn a Europa League spot for the Magpies.

Following an incredible season, the Magpies will not be content with (only) a first European appearance since 2006. They have their eyes on a top-four spot with five games remaining. The team have a good chance of accomplishing their goal, according to the Premier League best odds.

Newcastle sit fifth, level on points with Tottenham Hotspur in fourth, and five points behind Arsenal, with a game in hand. They face Stoke City at home, on Saturday. The side could be a fixture of Champions League knock-out bets, next year.

Tiote has played a central role in Newcastle's return to prominence. The club will be looking to add to their key men in the summer, rather than have to replace them.

Falcao gives Atletico advantage

Radamel Falcao continued his stunning form, this season, with two more goals to guide Atletico Madrid to a 4-2 victory in their Europa League semi-final first-leg against Valencia.

The Columbian striker’s brace, along with goals from Miranda and Adrian Lopez, ensured that the Madrid side would head to the Mestalla for the return leg with a two-goal advantage.

Falcao’s first came just before the 20-minute mark, when the striker headed home from an Adrian cross to give the hosts the lead. Valencia managed to get themselves back into the tie just before the half-time break, when an Adil Rami knockdown was finished by Jonas.

Atletico, the 2010 Europa League champions, came out of the break full of life, quickly gaining the advantage courtesy of Miranda’s head and some shocking marking by the Valencia defenders.

Adrian slipped home his side’s third soon after, coolly sliding in from a tight angle, after some more poor marking.

The tournament’s top scorer, Falcao, made it 4-1 on the night with 12 minutes remaining, smashing home a belting effort from outside the box, to send the home fans away in dreamland.

Ricardo Costa gave the visitors some hope, with the last touch of the match, when he headed a late goal, giving Valencia something to hang onto for the return leg.

The man-of-the-match, Falcao, admitted that it was a case of job done following the comprehensive victory. While not claiming the tie was all but over, the striker made it clear Atletico had achieved what they had set out to do: achieve a healthy lead going into the second-leg.

"The important thing is that we won convincingly. The victory is ours, as well as the advantage in the tie, so we have done a very good job." Madrid are now very strong favourites for the win in the return leg in the Europa League odds.

For more information on the Europa League, visit http://betting.betfair.com/football/.

Terry Heaps Praise on Hero Drogba

John Terry heaped praise on Chelsea hero, Didier Drogba, after the striker’s winning goal handed the Londoners a 1-0 advantage in their Champions League semi-final tie against Barcelona.

The Ivorian frontman swept home the only goal of the game just before half time, getting on the end of a Ramires cross to send Stamford Bridge into raptures. It was a lead that Chelsea managed to hang onto, fending off wave upon wave of Barcelona attack.

Roberto Di Matteo’s men produced the kind of defensive display they will need to repeat at the Camp Nou, next week, if they are going to surprise the Champions League odds and progress to the final.

Drogba’s goal came at the end of a half that had seen the striker put himself about without any rewards. The 34-year old deserved his goal, and weighed in with his fair share of defensive work when called upon.

Many had predicted Drogba would struggle to follow up his match winning performance the previous weekend, against Spurs, with another in the same week. The former Marseilles star proved those doubters wrong, however, making it clear that he is still capable of producing the goods on the big occasions.

While some believe Drogba’s Chelsea career is ending, his captain admitted the striker is still an essential part of the team’s plans. Terry admitted that the victory against Barcelona had not been easy, praising the defensive effort put in by the whole team.

“We had to be very patient, I don't think we touched the ball for the first 15 minutes but from Didi on his own up front, the midfield and defence, it was a great team performance.”

“Didier is all about these big nights, the big occasions. He put fear into the Spurs defence, at the weekend, and he did that again tonight.”

“He was up there on his own against some of best defenders in world and he did it brilliantly”, said Terry. Whether the player can replicate his performance at the Bridge in the Premier League is debatable. However, ‘Didi’ remains a popular conversation topic over at Betfair Premier League.

Liverpool Playing Second Fiddle

“Celebrate good times c’mon” were the lyrics pumping out of every Liverpool fan's vocal cords, at the weekend, as the Reds celebrated overcoming their bitter rivals, Everton, in the FA Cup semi-final.

However, whilst the celebrations in the red half of Merseyside may well continue for a few days to come, the reality remains that Liverpool are now a side playing second fiddle to the top teams in England.

It could be argued that Liverpool are using their cup success to disguise the fact that they have completely and utterly failed in the Premier League, this season.

Granted, Liverpool won the Carling Cup, and are now in the final of the FA Cup, but they have achieved this after pulling off a few decent performances in the Cups, rather than through confidence built after a consistent run of league form.

The owners of the club, Fenways Sports, are more than aware that they are not going to earn the big bucks by playing well in the FA Cup or the Carling Cup - although, anybody indulging in some FA Cup betting is likely to view the situation differently.

With the Reds needing Champions League football, if they are going to stand a chance of taking Liverpool back to the levels that the club achieved in the 1980s, when they dominated British football, and to an extent European football as well, you can see where the problem currently lies.

The aim for Liverpool this season has boiled down to winning the FA Cup, but the players will know that they'll have to stand up and be counted next season in the Premier League, as they once again face the reality of life without the Champions League. 

Whether King Kenny is the man to lead next year's charge remains to be seen. Pending some drastic changes, the Reds are unlikely to start the season as favourites in the Premier League odds.